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▲ The naked search of the airport is feared to cause diplomatic friction between the Australian government and Qatar. The picture shows the airport in Doha, Qatar. © aubreaknews
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The Australian government is furious at the nakedness test of female passengers at an international airport in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
When a newborn baby was found abandoned at the airport earlier this month, some female passengers were tested naked and the Australian government, which suffered damage to its citizens, said it was shocking, but Qatar remained silent.
According to the Guardian and other Australian media on the 26th (local time), Australian Foreign Minister spokesman Maurice Payne said, "The Australian government is deeply concerned about the unacceptable treatment of some female passengers."
He strongly criticized, "The treatment of women was unpleasant and totally inappropriate, and went beyond a situation where free and legal consent could be reached."
"The government has officially conveyed our serious concerns to Qatar authorities, and the Foreign Ministry is involved in the matter through diplomatic channels," he said.
"It's completely shocking, aggressive and worrisome," Payne told reporters. The incident was reported to the Australian Federal Police.
"It's something I've never heard of in any situation of my life," Payne said. "We have clearly expressed our views on this matter to Qatar authorities."
Some also asked whether the statement pointed out that "free and legal consent" was impossible, meaning the case would be equated with sex crimes.
"No, I haven't seen a detailed report of the case yet, so I didn't mean it," Payne said.
Meanwhile, the Qatar government has refused to comment on the Australian government's protest.
Flight QR908 was scheduled to depart from Qatar's Hamad International Airport for Sydney, Australia, on the 2nd, but was delayed for four hours after a newborn was found in the airport bathroom.
According to Wolfgang Babek, the passengers waited three hours on board. The airline then asked all female passengers to get off. Soon after, the plane took off only after the female passengers returned in great anger.
"At least one of them was crying, and something unacceptable and disgusting happened," said Babek.
According to Barbeck's female passengers, they were taken to a private place by security guards without knowing what was going on.
"They were taken to the women's doctor, basically naked and even undressed," said Babek. And to see if there were any women who had recently given birth, a doctor examined the womb and lower abdomen of the women.
According to Seven Network, an Australian private broadcaster that first reported the case, 13 Australian women had to be examined.
After arriving in Sydney, Payne said the women had been quarantined at a hotel for 14 days in accordance with the new Korona virus guidelines, and the Australian government contacted them.
The infant is still alive and the airport is still looking for the mother.
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